Prince Saud Al-Faisal, the Saudi Foreign Minister, categorically denied on Thursday existence of a Saudi initiative for the settlement of the Syrian-Lebanese dispute. These comments came as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad arrived in Riyadh in a short visit to the kingdom.

Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah Ben Abdulaziz and a number of princes and Saudi ministers as well senior army officers and national guards were in his reception at the airport in addition to the Syrian ambassador in Riyahd and Syrian embassy staff.

It should be noted that Prince Saud, who is leading the Saudi delegation to the meetings of the 123rd session of the Arab League's Council, which convened in Cairo, said, in a press statement, that he had no idea about press reports which said that arrangements were underway to hold a tripartite summit, with the participation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Syria.

Earlier, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul -Gheit said that Egypt had no information about a three-way summit in Riyadh grouping Egypt, Syria and Saudi Arabia on Thursday.